Power converting mechanism



Aug. 27, 1935. w. E. HENDRICKS POWER CONVERTING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed May 14, 1934 WziZzizm EHemrz'r/rs Y Aug. 27, 1935.

POWER CONVERT ING MECHANISM Filed May 14, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w. E.HENDRICKS I 2,012,534

bustion engine, indicatethe same to be decidedly Patented Aug. 27, 1935rowan, CONVERTING'IYIECHANISM' J William E; Hendricks, oqa aaie, c010.

. Application May 14, 1934, seriaim qzsgsze i t: I 2 0125 This inventionrelates tonew and useful improvements in power converting mechanism andpertains particularly to mechanism for convert- 1 .ing reciprocatingmotion to rotary'inotion.

' w Tests conducted in connection with thepresent well known-forms ofmechanism for changing oscillating or reciprocating motion to rotary, t

such as the crank andwheel of the bicycleor (the crank shank-andpitmanof an internal cominefiicient, due to the fact that-the maximumap- I plication of power is possible only during a few degrees of thecycle described by the crank.

t The primary object of thepresent invention is "to provide a mechanismby which greater efiiciency is developed in changingreciprocating torotary'motion; by anew principle; the mechanism being particularlywelladaptedfor employing man power and obtaining-the maximum ofpower'therefrom. I t I I A further object of my invention is to providea novel mechanism designed to beoperated' by the legs and to facilitatethe development of a high degree of power thereby; thus. making-the-mech anism particularly desirable for use upon bicycles, andothermanpoweroperatedconveyances, such as boats, airplanes, s'ewingmachinesand the 1ike,,and the mechanism is-alsogapplica bleto poweif'drivenmachines vvhereveneflicient 1 transmission of oscillating powerto'rotary power is desirable;v

A; stillfurtherobject r theinvention is to we mechanism of the abovedescribed character; I which, when used for the operation of" a bicycle]boat or similar conveyance'wher'e thelegipower of the rider'isemployedfordeveloping driving power is adapted tocarry theweight of thelegs which are substantially horizontally disposed,

thereby enabling the operator to put into the operation or driving ofthe mechanism, the power which would be employed in raising the legswere the propelling mechanism of the crank, pedal and ratchet typecommonly employed on bicycles. 2

Still another object of the present" invention is to provide a powerconverting mechanism employing oneor more oscillatable leversadapted Ito be actuated by a foot or by the feet, in which means are provided forselectively varying the degree'of power which may be developed. I I

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the;accompanying drawings, with the understanding that the inven 7 tion isnotto beconfinedto theshowin iibfthe samebutmay be changedor modifiedso:lor gas" such-changes or modifications mark no material departurefrom'the salient-features of the inve'htion as defined in the appendedclaim.

In the drawings:

Figure lfis' a View illustrating oneapplication of'my invention,thefsame being shownin side elevation with and applied to a low slungbicycle.

on the 'line 22 of'FigurefL Figure 3 is'adet'ail sectional view, takenon the line 3-4 of Figure 1, I Y

Figure 4 is an enlarged Figure 2 isa horizontal sectional view," taken Idetail view, fshowing the connection of a push-pullrodwith a sprocket 15 Figure'j5 is'a vertical"sectionalj'view, talienon I I the line'5--5 ofl 'igure 1:;

Figure 6:isa view, showingthe applicat ion of l th'einve'ntion tofa;standard'type ofbicyclelj 1 .20 3 1 Referring m r panicu l ily'fiomeantings, ,wherein like numerals of] reference indi-v catecorresponding parts, throughout the, several views, one form of'tl'iemechanism "illustrating and for carrying outthejp resent' invention isillustratedin Figure"1 ,,as applied to a low slung I type ofjbicycle,while in Figure 6 is shown a form modified. for; appl'ication to thetype of,bicycle,, 7

where theriders its above the 'driving'mechanism, j

scope of applicatien ofthefsame.

Thearrangement of th'efelements of the, device I arrangement thespemtornas his leg's'extended before him or substantially horizontallyand he is not required to alternately lifthis legs in work- These,'itisIto betundjerstood, are merely illustra tions'of. two. applicationsofffthe invention and are not to be. considered-as. limitations to, the

I is preferred as illustratedinijigur 1,,asinthis ing the device, and istherefore able to apply the I,

energy which would thus be required in the working of the mechanism. I

t The numeral l indicates generally the frame of the bicycle, which isdesigned to carrythe seat 2 at a low elevation as shown, instead ofabove the wheels 3 and 4, asin the usual form, of the machine. Thesteering 'shaft fh o-using is indicated'by the numeral 5 and iscontro-lled by the wheel 6. Y

The mechanism.-'embodying the invention comprises four wheels preferablyin the formfiof the sprockets .1 and Bwhich, in theapplication of theinvention to a bicycleof the type illustrated in -ametrica lly oppositepoints on the para11el-end-" Figure l, are arranged two upon therear-wheel axle 9 and the other two forwardly thereof and link l2, towhich is pivotally attached one end of an actuating or connecting rod13. The chains are adjusted upon their respective sides of the machinesoas to place the bearing links l2 atdiless paths which they travel. 7

iliary brace lever ll extends upwardly from each lever l andoscillatably connects with the supporting arm I l as shown, to preventlateral sway are connected by thechains 4 2 and each; chain V V V hasabearing link like the link, l2 of the first described; structure, withwhich is connected the other end-of the adjacent rod 4|.

inthe lever as it isoscillated, i, V Adiacent'the lower end-ofeach leverI 5 is comnected the other or free end of the rod 1 3, which is upon thesame side of the bicycle andrsincelthe rods are so connected at theirother endsto the chains that those ends will always be at the maximumdistance apart, it will be apparent that;v the levers will always beset;so one will swing for: iwardly 'whilethecther 'swings'rearwardly. 7

Upon'each lever l5 adj acentitsf lower endis a, foot support I8, inwhich the, occupant of the 7 seat 2 may place his feet while working thelevers backandforth. -These supports are mountedvto be adju'stedlongiitudinally of the'levers so that. thedegreeof leverage or powerapplied may be variedto suitthe rider. While any suitable ad'- justingimeans may be employed, ltis preferred that the leversbe-slotted at theiroppositelon- @gitudinalfedges'so as'toreceive the guide fingers l9forming a partof the bracketsZU vwhich are carriedby the foot plates 2!To these plates 2| 7. or to one of the brackets 20, i'slc'onnectedacable I 23 whichpasses up to and over ajpulley 24 at the, a

top end of the lever i5. Each cable hasfla'loop levers.

lie and 'each may'have a 'toe loop 2T tosecure slightly modified, isshown applied to a bicycle of or ring 24 upon its other end forconnecting with; one of a series of hooks 25 disposed longitudinally,along the shaft housing 5., It wi1l thusbe'seenl I that by drawing uponthe cables,,-the rider of the j' grvehicle may adjust thev'footsup'portsgalong the) The plates of the foot supports carry loops or'slings26, inwhich thehe'elsof thefeet the more commonly used type, in,which the frame 28 carries a seat: 29 at an elevation above the wheels30 and 31 and power is applied to the sprocket 32 through the medium ofcrank and pedals, which are not shown having been removed for theapplication of the improved mechanism, and transmitted to the rear wheelaxle by means of the chain 33 and rear sprocket 34.

Mounted concentrically with the sprocket 32 upon either side. of thesame, are sprockets 35 and above these sprockets andspaced therefrom areduplicate sprockets 36; which are mounted upon suitable stub axles 31carried by the brace bar 38 of the vbicycle frame;

Pivotally mounted upon the lateral arms 39 .carried at the rear of theframe 28 where the usual supporting leg for the bicycle is mounted, are.forwardly extending levers 40, each of which extends past the sprockets35 and 36 and each has pivotally attached thereto one end of a rod ll.vThe sprockets-upon each side. of the bicycle It will thus be apparentthat the rider of the bicycle will actuate imposing his weight upon thelevers 40 as the vthe mechanismto drive the bicycle, by alternatelylatter reach and pass the upward limit of their movementf The degree ofpower transmitted may be regulated byvadvancing or moving the feetbackwardon the leversas'necessary. a

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent.

that an'entirel'y new and novel mechanism has illustrated in ;Figure 1,power may be put into the running of the mechanism which wouldordinarily be employed in raising the feet and legs, as when peddling. abicycleof thetypes alt-present in use. I

What .is .claimedis:

In a bicycle including a frame, a seat and sup-j porting ,wheels, a pairof. levers .oscillatably mounted ,on. the frame to' swing on a commonaxis andl adapted ftofbe'engaged by the feet of an,

occupantof the seat; a pairiof spaced sprockets,

one of said sprockets being coupled with a wheel l to transmit rotarymotionthereto', a chain passing. about and connecting said sprockets,and 'a connecting rod pivotally connected with each-lever r andpivotally connecting the same witha chain,, the foot so that power maybetransmitted to f the connectionsof the rods'with the chains being I atdiametricallyopposite points on the parallel paths which the .chainsfollow.

been devisedvfor-translating oscillating motion .1

